Print system, apparatus, and method for performing printing based on document information stored in document server

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a print system having an enhanced operability for printing document information transmitted/received through a network. In this system, documents stored in a database are searched for so as to obtain a search result, and a user specifies a document to be printed from among documents indicated by the search result in a browser screen. Accordingly, a printer extracts information about a storage location of the document and downloads the information of the document stored in a document server thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a print system. In particular,the present invention relates to a network print system in which aprinter and a document server are connected to a network.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In a known print system, each of a document-search function and aprinting function operates individually, and both functions do notcooperate with each other organically.

[0005] In the known print system, a user's performance of obtaininglocation information of a document by browsing documents accessiblethrough a network is not directly connected to a document-searchfunction of the print system. Therefore, the user has to write down thelocation information of a document so as to record information requiredfor printing. Also, the user has to manually input the recordedinformation to a predetermined space in a print

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of theabove-described problems, and it is an object of the present inventionto provide a print system having an enhanced capability for printingdocument information transmitted/received through a communicationnetwork.

[0007] According to a print system of the present invention, a user neednot perform cumbersome operations, for example, writing down storagelocation information of a document.

[0008] That is, in the print system according to the present invention,printing of a selected document is started when a user selects a desireddocument out of a list of documents found by a search. Therefore, akey-input operation by the user for specifying a document to be printedcan be simplified and input errors caused in the key-input operation canbe reduced.

[0009] Further objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiment with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a print system.

[0011]FIG. 2 shows an example of an internal configuration of a computersystem serving as a document server.

[0012]FIG. 3 shows an example of an internal configuration of a printer(SFP and MFP).

[0013]FIG. 4 is a model diagram illustrating a software function of thedocument server computer and the printer.

[0014]FIG. 5 illustrates a sequence of transfer/transition of requestsand instructions among a user, the printer, and the document servercomputer.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process performed inthe printer.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a specific procedure of abrowsing process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a specific procedure of aprinting process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed in thedocument server computer when printing is performed.

[0019]FIG. 10 shows an example of a browser screen displayed in theprinter to the user.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a browsing process when adocument search request is transmitted to a plurality of servers.

[0021]FIG. 12 shows an example of a browser screen displayed in theprinter to the user.

[0022]FIG. 13 shows a memory map of a CD-ROM, which is an example of arecording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a print system of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the drawings. As describedbelow, in the print system of the embodiment, a printer and a documentserver are connected to a network, documents managed by the documentserver are browsed by using a function provided in the printer, a userselects a document from among the browsed documents, and the selecteddocument is printed.

[0024] Overall Configuration of a Print System 10

[0025]FIG. 1 shows an example of a hardware structure of a print system10 of the embodiment. In FIG. 1, the print system 10 includes documentserver computers (hereinafter referred to as server PCs) 110, 111, and112; a single function printer (SFP) 120; a multi function printer (MFP)123; and user terminals 121 and 122, and these elements are connected toa LAN 100.

[0026] Each of the server PCs 110, 111, and 112 (hereinafter, only theserver PC 110 will be described) includes a network database server (forexample, lightweight directory access protocol server (LDAP server))storing document information. The SFP 120 and the MFP 123 will becollectively called a printer 120. Although not shown, other devices,e.g., multifunction devices (MFDs), within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention can be employed.

[0027] The printer 120 includes a network database client (for example,lightweight directory access protocol client (LDAP client)) which canbrowse documents stored in the server PC 110.

[0028] In the print system 10, when a user inputs a browse command tothe server PC 110 through the printer 120, the server PC 110 transmitsinformation about documents which are currently stored therein (forexample, a list of documents) to the printer 120. Then, the user selectsa desired document from among the documents and instructs the printer120 to print the selected document. Accordingly, the printer 120downloads information of the selected document from the server PC 110 soas to perform printing based on the document information.

[0029] Configuration of Server PC 110

[0030]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overview of an internalconfiguration of a computer system which can serve as the server PC 110.

[0031] In FIG. 2, the server PC 110 stores and manages documentinformation. In the server PC 110, a CPU 201 controls devices connectedto a system bus 204, and executes a document server program which issupplied from a ROM 202, a hard disk (HD) 211, or a floppy disk drive(FD) 212.

[0032] A RAM 203 functions as a main memory or a work area for the CPU201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls pointing/input from akeyboard (KB) 209 and a pointing device or the like (not shown). A CRTcontroller (CRTC) 206 controls display in a CRT display (CRT) 210.

[0033] A disk controller (DKC) 207 controls an access to the HD 211 andthe FD 212. A boot program, various applications, an edit file, a userfile, a document server program, and so forth are recorded in the HD211.

[0034] A network interface card (NIC) 208 transmits/receives datato/from a network printer, another network apparatus, or another PCthrough a LAN 220. In the print system 10 of the embodiment, the LAN 220corresponds to the LAN 100 shown in FIG. 1.

[0035] Configuration of Printer 120

[0036]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overview of an internalconfiguration of a computer system which can serve as the printer 120.The printer 120 shown in FIG. 3 starts up a reference print program soas to perform printing.

[0037] In the printer 120, a CPU 301 controls devices connected to asystem bus 304, and executes a reference print program which is suppliedfrom a ROM 302, a hard disk (HD) 311, or a floppy disk drive (FD) 312.

[0038] A RAM 303 functions as a main memory or a work area for the CPU301. A user interface controller (UIC) 305 controls display and input ofinformation to a user interface (UI) 309.

[0039] A function controller (FUNCC) 306 controls realization of afunction (FUNC) 310, which is a function peculiar to each device.

[0040] If the printer 120 is a monochrome printer, the printer 120includes a monochrome print engine controller as the FUNCC 306 and amonochrome print engine as the FUNC 310.

[0041] On the other hand, if the printer 120 is a color printer, theprinter 120 includes a color print engine controller as the FUNCC 306and a color print engine as the FUNC 310. Further, if the printer 120 isthe MFP 123, the printer 120 includes a FUNCC 306 and a FUNC 310 forMFP.

[0042] A disk controller (DKC) 307 controls an access to the HD 311 andthe FD 312. Various applications, data files, a print program, and soforth are recorded in the HD 311.

[0043] A network I/F controller (NIC) 308 transmits/receives datato/from another apparatus or another PC through a LAN 320. In the printsystem 10 of the embodiment, the LAN 320 corresponds to the LAN 100shown in FIG. 1.

[0044]FIG. 4 is a model diagram illustrating the server PC 110 and theprinter 120. Reference numeral 410 in FIG. 4 corresponds to the serverPC 110 shown in FIG. 1 and reference numeral 420 corresponds to theprinter 120 shown in FIG. 1. Also, a LAN 430 corresponds to the LAN 100shown in FIG. 1, and the server PC 410 and the printer 420 work inconjunction with each other through the LAN 430.

[0045] First, the software structure and each function of the server PC410 will be described. A network interface 411 is used for connectingthe server PC 110 to the LAN 430. A hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)server 412 is used for downloading predetermined document informationfrom a database 414. An LDAP server 413 is used for searching fordocument information stored in the database 414.

[0046] The database 414 stores document information and is managed bythe LDAP server 413. The HTTP server 412 serves as a documentinformation transfer unit and a storage location information receivingunit.

[0047] Next, the printer 420 will be described. A network interface 421is used for connecting the printer 120 to the LAN 430. An HTTP client422 corresponds to the HTTP server 412, and is used for receivingdocument information which is downloaded from the server PC 110 to theprinter 120.

[0048] An LDAP client 423 corresponds to the LDAP server 413, and isused for instructing the server PC 110 to search for documents. Areference print controller 424 controls reference printing (herein, itmeans that document information is downloaded from the database 414 andprinting is performed based on the document information). A userinterface (UI) 425 is used for inputting/outputting data by/to a user. Aprint engine 426 is used when the printer 120 performs printing.

[0049] The HTTP client 422 serves as a document information receivingunit. Also, the reference print controller 424, the LDAP server 413, andthe LDAP client 423 serve as a browsing unit. Further, the LDAP server413 serves as a search result transmitting unit and the reference printcontroller 424 serves as a search result holding/extracting unit. Stillfurther, the user interface (UI) 425 serves as a search result displayunit.

[0050] Operation of Print System 10

[0051] Hereinafter, an operation of the print system 10 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4.

[0052] When a user operates the user interface (UI) 425 of the printer420 so as to request browse of documents, the browse request istransmitted to the reference print controller 424. In this case, abrowser screen for inputting a keyword required for searching fordocuments is presented to the user through the UI 425. Accordingly, theuser inputs an arbitrary keyword in the browser screen.

[0053] Next, the reference print controller 424, to which the requestfor browsing documents is input, generates a document search request forrequesting a search for documents stored in the database 414 based onthe input keyword, and the generated request is transmitted to the LDAPclient 423.

[0054] Then, the LDAP client 423 transmits the document search requestto the LDAP server 413 of the server PC 410 through the networkinterface 421 of the printer 420, the LAN 430, and the network interface411 of the server PC 410.

[0055] The LDAP server 413 of the server PC 410 receives the documentsearch request, which has been generated based on the browse requestfrom the user, from the printer 420, searches the database 414 fordocument(s) including the keyword input in the browser screen, andtransmits a search result to the LDAP client 423.

[0056] Transmission/reception of data between the PC server 410 and theprinter 420 is performed through the network interfaces 411 and 421 andthe LAN 430. Also, any type of searching method based on a keyword maybe used, including exact matching and fuzzy matching.

[0057] The LDAP client 423 outputs the search result from the LDAPserver 413 to the reference print controller 424. The reference printcontroller 424 performs control so that the search result is held in apredetermined recording area and that the UI 425 displays a page of thesearch result. Accordingly, a list of documents is shown to the user.

[0058] When the user selects a desired document from the list ofdocuments, which are displayed by the UI 425, identification information(for example, name of document) for identifying the selected document istransmitted to the reference print controller 424 together with a printrequest.

[0059] The reference print controller 424, which has received the printrequest, refers to the search result held in the predetermined recordingarea (for example, RAM 303 shown in FIG. 3), in order to extract auniform resource locator (URL), which is information about the storagelocation of the selected document and which is identificationinformation for identifying the document. Then, the reference printcontroller 424 transmits a download request in which the URL isspecified to the HTTP client 422.

[0060] The HTTP client 422 receives the request for downloading thedocument information and transmits the download request (GET method) inwhich the URL is specified to the HTTP server 412. The HTTP server 412receives the download request, extracts document information stored inthe specified URL from the database 414, and transmits the documentinformation to the HTTP client 422.

[0061] The HTTP client 422 transmits the document information from theHTTP server 412 to the reference print controller 424. The referenceprint controller 424 transmits the document information from the HTTPclient 422 to the print engine 426 and waits for the print engine 426 tofinish printing based on the document information.

[0062] When the print engine 426 finishes printing, it notifies thereference print controller 424 of a print result. Then, the referenceprint controller 424 controls the UI 425 so that the print result isnotified the user. The print result may indicate any of the followingoptions: (1) that printing has been successfully completed, (2) printinghas been ended in failure, or (3) an error has occurred.

[0063] The configuration of the print system 10 shown in FIG. 4 is onlyan example, and another configuration can be adopted. For example, theHTTP server 412 and the HTTP client 422 can be replaced by other datatransfer protocols (for example, file transfer protocol (FTP)). Also,the LDAP server 413 and the LDAP client 423 can be replaced by otherdatabase controllers.

[0064]FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing transition of informationwhich is transmitted/received by a user 500, a printer 510, and a serverPC 520 when the print system 10 of the embodiment performs printing. Theprinter 510 is equivalent to the printer 120, which is indicated withreference numeral 420 in FIG. 4, and the document server 520 isequivalent to the server PC 110, which is indicated with referencenumeral 410 in FIG. 4.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 5, the printer 510 receives a browse request anda keyword from the user 500 (531), and transmits a document searchrequest to the server PC 520 (532). The server PC 520 searches thedatabase for document(s) based on the keyword (533), and transmits asearch result to the printer 510 (534).

[0066] The printer 510 receives the search result and displays a list ofdocuments to the user 500 (535). The user 500 selects a document to beprinted from among the documents on the list, and transmits a printrequest to the printer 510 (541).

[0067] The printer 510 receives the print request from the user 500 andtransmits a document download request to the server PC 520 (542). Then,the server PC 520 transmits information about the document selected bythe user 500 to the printer 510 (543). The printer 510 receives thedocument information, performs printing (544), and displays a printresult to the user 500 (545).

[0068]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a printing process performed in theprinter 120. For example, the CPU of the printer 120 executes theprocess based on a program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 6, after the process in the printer 120 isstarted in step S600, a request from a user is waited for, and it isdetermined whether a request has been transmitted from the user in stepS610. When a request has been transmitted, the process proceeds to stepS620. In step S620, it is determined whether the request from the useris a browse request or a print request.

[0070] If the request is a browse request or print request, the processproceeds to step S630, and otherwise, the process proceeds to step S641.In step S630, it is determined whether the request is a browse requestor a print request. If the request is a browse request, the processproceeds to step S642, and if the request is a print request, theprocess proceeds to step S643.

[0071] In step S641, a process for the request other than a browserequest and print request is performed. In step S642, a browsing processis performed, and in step S643, a printing process is performed. Afterthe process of step S641, S642, or S643 has been performed, the processreturns to step S610, so as to wait for a request from the user again.

[0072]FIG. 7 shows the browsing process performed in step S642 of theflowchart shown in FIG. 6. For example, the CPU of the printer 120performs the browsing process based on a program according to theflowchart shown in FIG. 7.

[0073] As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the browsing processin the printer is started in step S700. Then, the LDAP client 423 of theprinter 120 transmits a document search request to the server PC 110(step S710).

[0074] Then, the printer 120 performs a process for receiving a documentsearch result from the server PC 110 (step S710). Then, in step S711,the printer 120 displays a list of documents based on the search resultin the UI 425 shown in FIG. 4, so as to complete the browsing process ofstep S642 (step S720).

[0075]FIG. 8 shows the printing process performed in step S643 of theflowchart shown in FIG. 6. For example, the CPU of the printer 120performs the printing process based on a program according to theflowchart shown in FIG. 8. In the printing process of the embodimentshown in FIG. 8, a plurality of print requests are transmitted from theuser to the printer 120.

[0076] First, the printing process in the printer is started in stepS800. Then, in step S810, it is determined whether printing for all theprint requests from the user has been completed. If a print requestremains to be processed, the process proceeds to step S811. On the otherhand, if printing for all the print requests from the user has beencompleted, the process proceeds to step S830, and the printing processis completed.

[0077] In step S811, the HTTP client 422, which has been described withreference to FIG. 4, transmits a request for downloading documentinformation to the server PC 110. In this download request, a URLcorresponding to the document information is specified. Then, in stepS812, the HTTP client 422 receives the document information which hasbeen downloaded from the server PC 110.

[0078] In step S820, it is determined whether the document informationhas been successfully received in step S812. If the document informationhas been successfully received, the process proceeds to step S821.Otherwise, the process returns to step S810, so as to process a nextprint request.

[0079] In step S821, the print engine 426 shown in FIG. 4 performsprinting based on the downloaded document information. After theprinting has been completed, the process returns to step S810, so as toprocess a next print request.

[0080]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the server PC110 when printing is performed. For example, the CPU of the printer 120performs a process based on a program according to the flowchart shownin FIG. 9.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 9, a process in the server side is started instep S900. Then, a request from the printer 120 is waited for and it isdetermined whether a request from the printer 120 has been received instep S910. If a request has been received, the process proceeds to stepS920.

[0082] In step S920, it is determined whether the request from theprinter 120 is a document search request or a download request. If therequest is a document search request or a download request, the processproceeds to step S930, so as to determine whether the request is adocument search request. On the other hand, if it is determined that therequest from the printer 120 is neither a document search request nor adownload request in step S920, the process proceeds to step S941.

[0083] If the request is determined to be a document search request instep S930, the process proceeds to step S942. If the request isdetermined to be a download request, the process proceeds to step S943.

[0084] In step S941, a process other than a document search process anda document information transmitting process is performed. Then, theprocess returns to step S910, where the server waits for a request fromthe printer 120.

[0085] In step S942, the LDAP server 413 shown in FIG. 4 receives thedocument search request from the printer 120, that is, from the user,and searches the database 414 for documents. Then, a search result istransmitted to the printer 120 in step S944, and the process returns tostep S910 so as to wait for a request from the printer 120 again.

[0086] In step S943, the HTTP server 412 shown in FIG. 4 receives thedownload request from the printer 120, that is, from the user, andtransmits the requested document information to the printer 120. Then,the process returns to step S910, so as to wait for a request from theprinter 120 again.

[0087]FIG. 10 shows an example of the UI 425 shown in FIG. 4. A list ofdocuments based on the search result received by the LDAP client 423 isshown in FIG. 10.

[0088] “Devlp” 1010 shown in FIG. 10 is the name of a directory on thenetwork. A directory “maier” 1020 and a directory “beniee” 1021 are subdirectories of the directory “Devlp” 1010.

[0089] Further, a directory “A” 1030, a directory “B” 1031, and adirectory “C” 1032 are sub directories of the directory “maier” 1020,which is managed by the server PC 110.

[0090] A document 1040 is stored in the directory “A” 1030, and the namethereof is “picture.txt”. Likewise, the name of a document 1041 is“magazine.txt” and the name of a document 1042 is “maintenance.pdf”,which are stored in the directory “A” 1030.

[0091] Each of the documents “picture.txt”, “magazine.txt”, and“maintenance.pdf” includes a keyword input by the user. The searchresult from the server includes the names of documents found by a searchand information indicating a directory storing each document. Forexample, a URL “http://<IP address of server>/Devlp/maier/A/picture.txt”is included in the search result.

[0092] In FIG. 10, the display color of the document 1042 is reversed,which indicates that the document 1042 is currently selected by theuser.

[0093] An Open button 1050 at the bottom is used for displayingdocuments or directories in the browser screen. When the user pressesthe Open button 1050, documents stored in the selected directory ordirectories are displayed, in the manner shown in FIG. 10.

[0094] A Close button 1051 has an opposite function to the Open button1050 and is used for hiding the documents stored in the selecteddirectory or directories in the browser screen.

[0095] A Print button 1052 is used for starting printing of a selecteddocument, for example, the document 1042. When the user presses thePrint button 1052, the reference print controller 424 shown in FIG. 4controls the HTTP client 422 so as to transmit a request for downloadingdocument information of the selected document to the server PC 110.

[0096] When the download request is transmitted, information about thelocation of the document is also transmitted to the server PC 110. Inthis case, the document search result displayed in a browser screen 1000in FIG. 10 is used. That is, directory information, the file name, andso forth of the document selected by the user are transmitted to theserver PC 110 together with the download request.

[0097] A triangle button 1053 and an inverted-triangle button 1054 areused for switching the browser screen 1000 so as to display hiddendirectories or documents (if any).

[0098] The user can check a list of documents found by a keyword searchand can check a directory storing each document by seeing the browserscreen 1000 shown in FIG. 10. For example, when a plurality of documentshaving the same names are found, the user can identify each document andguess the content of each document by referring to a directory storingeach document.

[0099] The browser screen 1000 shown in FIG. 10 is only an example, andother types of browser screens may be used. For example, a browserscreen using another display method or a browser screen for displayingbuttons for performing other functions may be used.

[0100] In the above-described embodiment, the printer 120 transmits adocument search request to only the server PC 110. Alternatively, theprinter 120 may transmit a document search request to a plurality ofservers, for example, to the server PCs 110, 111, and 112, so thatdocuments stored in each server can be searched.

[0101]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a browsing process when a documentsearch request is transmitted to a plurality of servers. For example,the CPU of the printer 120 executes the process based on a programaccording to the flowchart shown in FIG. 11.

[0102] First, a browsing process in the printer is started in stepS1100. Then, the LDAP client 423 of the printer 120 transmits a documentsearch request to the server PC 110, for example. Then, in step S1120,the printer 120 performs a process for receiving a document searchresult from the server PC 110. In this case, the search result includesserver identification information for identifying the server PC 110.

[0103] Then, in step S1130, it is determined whether a document searchrequest has been transmitted to all servers. If the document searchrequest has been transmitted to all the servers, the process proceedsstep S1140. Otherwise, the process returns to step S1110. For example,if a document search request has not been transmitted to the server PC111, the process returns to step S1110, where the request is transmittedto the serve PC 111.

[0104] In step S1140, the printer 120 displays a list of documents basedon search results received from the plurality of servers in the UI 425shown in FIG. 4, and then the browsing process is completed (stepS1150).

[0105]FIG. 12 shows an example of the UI 425 shown in FIG. 4. In FIG.12, a list of documents based on the search results received by the LDAPclient 423 is shown. A difference from FIG. 10 is that a list ofdocuments obtained by a search in each of the plurality of servers isdisplayed. Directories 1210, 1220, and 1230 are in the server PC 110.Documents 1240, 1250, and 1260 have been found by a search in the serverPC 110. Also, directories 1270 and 1280 are in the server PC 111. Adocument 1290 has been found by a search in the server PC 111.

[0106] By seeing a screen 1200 shown in FIG. 12, the user can check alist of documents in the servers found by the keyword search.

[0107]FIG. 13 shows a memory map of a CD-ROM, which is an example of arecording medium. Reference numeral 9999 in FIG. 13 denotes an area inwhich directory information of documents is recorded. Reference numeral9998 denotes an area for recording an install program, and referencenumeral 9997 denotes an area for recording a reference print program.

[0108] The location information of the install program recording area9998 and the reference print program recording area 9997 is stored inthe directory information recording area 9999.

[0109] When a program for operating the print system 10 of theembodiment is installed into the printer 120, the install programrecorded in the area 9998 shown in FIG. 13 is read by the CPU 301 and isthen loaded into the ROM 302 shown in FIG. 3. Then, the CPU 301 executesthe install program loaded into the ROM 302, reads out the referenceprint program from the area 9997, and stores the reference print programin the hard disk 311.

[0110] The configuration of the print system 10 of the present inventionis not limited to that according to the above-described embodiment.Alternatively, the function of the print system 10 may be applied to asystem or an integrated device including a plurality of devices (forexample, a host computer, an interface, and a reader), or may be appliedto a single device.

[0111] Also, in the embodiment, the SFP 120 or the MFP 123 serving as aprinter directly transmits a search request or transfers a selecteddocument to the server PC 110. Alternatively, for example, the searchrequest or the like may be transmitted by the user terminal 121 or 122,so that necessary information is transmitted to the server PC 110.

[0112] Further, a recording medium containing program codes of softwarefor realizing the functions of the print system 10 of theabove-described embodiment may be supplied to a system or a device, anda computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or the device may read and executethe program codes stored in the recording medium, so that the object ofthe present invention can be achieved.

[0113] In this case, the program codes read from the recording mediumrealize the functions of the present invention, and thus the recordingmedium containing the program codes is included in the presentinvention.

[0114] The recording medium for supplying the program codes includes afloppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, aCD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM.

[0115] The functions of the above-described embodiment may be realizedby executing the program codes read by the computer. Also, the functionsof the above-described embodiment may be realized when an OS operatingin the computer executes part or whole of actual processing based on theinstructions of the program codes.

[0116] Further, after the program codes read from the recording mediumhave been written in a memory provided in an expansion board inserted tothe computer or an expansion unit connected to the computer, a CPU orthe like provided in the expansion board or the expansion unit mayexecute part or whole of actual processing based on the instructions ofthe program codes, so that the functions of the above-describedembodiment can be realized.

[0117] Of course, the present invention can be applied to a case wheresoftware program codes for realizing the functions of theabove-described embodiment recorded in a recording medium are suppliedto a user through a communication line, such as PC communication.

[0118] As described above, according to the present invention, documentsstored in a document server connected through a network are searchedfor, a desired document is selected from among the found documents, andthe selected document is downloaded to a printer. Accordingly, adocument searching function and a printing function of a print systemcan be organically connected.

[0119] With this configuration, when a user specifies a document to beprinted in a browser screen, in which a search result is displayed, adesired document can be printed, and the user need not manually writedown a storage location of the document, so that a user-friendly printsystem can be obtained.

[0120] Further, the user need not perform manual key inputting ofstorage location of a document to be printed, and thus an input errorcan be prevented.

[0121] While the present invention has been described with reference towhat are presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus capable of communicating with adocument server and which performs printing based on documentinformation stored by the document server, the apparatus comprising:request means for requesting a search for at least one document storedby the document server; receiving means for receiving, based on thesearch request, information about a location of said at least onedocument; display means for displaying a list, which includes at leastsaid one document found by the search based on the location informationreceived by the receiving means; and document obtaining means forobtaining document information of a document selected out of the listdisplayed by the display means.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the location information indicates a directory in which said atleast one document found by the search is stored.
 3. A print systemcomprising: request means for requesting a search for at least onedocument stored in the document server to the document server based onsearch information input by a user; receiving means for receiving searchresult information indicating said at least one document found by thesearch, which has been requested by the request means; display means fordisplaying a list of said at least one document found by the searchbased on the search result information received by the receiving means;and document obtaining means for obtaining document information of adocument selected out of the list displayed by the display means.
 4. Aprint system according to claim 3, wherein the search informationincludes a keyword, the request means transmits a search request inwhich the keyword is specified to the document server, and the documentserver searches for said at least one document corresponding to thekeyword.
 5. A print system according to claim 3, wherein the obtainingmeans obtains the document selected out of the list displayed by thedisplay means by transmitting a document request in which documentidentification information for identifying the document is specified tothe document server.
 6. A print system according to claim 3, wherein thedocument server comprises a plurality of document servers, the requestmeans requests a document search to each of the plurality of documentservers, and the display means displays a list of at least one documentfound by the search performed in each of the plurality of documentservers.
 7. A print system in which a printer is connected to a documentserver and the printer performs printing based on document informationstored in the document server, the system comprising: request means forrequesting a search for at least one document stored in the documentserver to the document server in response to a request from a user;receiving means for receiving information about a storage location ofsaid at least one document found by the search requested by the requestmeans; display means for displaying a list of said at least one documentfound by the search based on the storage location information receivedby the receiving means; and document obtaining means for obtainingdocument information of a document selected out of the list displayed bythe display means.
 8. A print system in which a printer is connected toa document server and the printer performs printing based on documentinformation stored in the document server, the system comprising:request means for requesting a search for at least one document storedin the document server to the document server based on searchinformation input by a user; receiving means for receiving search resultinformation indicating said at least one document found by the search,which has been requested by the request means; display means fordisplaying a list of said at least one document found by the searchbased on the search result information received by the receiving means;and document obtaining means for obtaining document information of adocument selected out of the list displayed by the display means.
 9. Aprinting method for performing printing based on document informationstored in a document server, the method comprising: a request step froma printer to the document server, wherein the request step requests asearch for at least one document stored by the document server; atransfer step from the document server to the printer of transferringinformation about a storage location of said at least one document foundby the request step; a display step by the printer of displaying a listof said at least one document found by the search based on the storagelocation information transferred in the transfer step; a documenttransfer step from the document server to the printer of transferringsaid at least one document selected out of the list displayed in thedisplay step; and a printing step by the printer of printing the atleast one document received from the document server.
 10. A printingmethod according to claim 9, wherein the storage location informationindicates a directory in which said at least one document found by thesearch is stored.
 11. A printing method for performing printing based ondocument information stored in a document server, the method comprising:a request step of requesting a search for at least one document storedin the document server from a printer to the document server based onsearch information input by a user; a transfer step of transferringsearch result information indicating said at least one document found bythe search, which has been requested in the request step, from thedocument server to the printer; a display step of displaying a list ofsaid at least one document found by the search based on the searchresult information transferred in the transfer step, the display beingperformed in the printer; and a document transfer step of transferringdocument information of a document selected out of the list displayed inthe display step from the document server to the printer.
 12. A printingmethod according to claim 11, wherein the search information includes akeyword, a search request in which the keyword is specified istransmitted to the document server in the request step, and the documentserver searches for said at least one document corresponding to thekeyword.
 13. A printing method according to claim 11, wherein, in thedocument transfer step, the document selected out of the list displayedin the display step is transferred by transmitting a document request inwhich document identification information for identifying the documentis specified to the document server.
 14. A printing method according toclaim 11, wherein the document server comprises a plurality of documentservers, a document search is requested to each of the plurality ofdocument servers in the request step, and a list of at least onedocument found by the search performed in each of the plurality ofdocument servers is displayed in the display step.
 15. A method thatenables a printer to print a remotely located document, the methodcomprising: receiving by the printer a search request for at least oneremotely located document; communicating the search request from theprinter to a document server; displaying by the printer a search resultfrom the document server, wherein the search result includes informationabout the remotely located document; receiving by the printer a requestto print the remotely located document; and responsive thereof, printingthe remotely located document.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theinformation about the remotely located document includes the storagelocation of the document.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: communicating from the printer to the document server thestorage location of the remotely located document after the step ofreceiving a request to print the remotely located document.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising: identifying the location of theremotely located document based on the storage location; andtransferring from the document server to the printer the remotelylocated document.
 19. A method that enables an MFD (multifunctiondevice) to output a remotely located document, the method comprising:receiving by the MFD a search request for at least one remotely locateddocument; communicating the search request from the MFD to a documentserver; displaying by the MFD a search result from the document server,wherein the search result includes information about the remotelylocated document; receiving by the MFD a request to output the remotelylocated document; and responsive thereof, outputting the remotelylocated document.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the informationabout the remotely located document includes the storage location of thedocument.